Checkrein.



No. 810,336. PATENTED JAN. 16. 1906.

P. J. HIGGINS.

I OHEGKRBIN.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.17,1904.

PATRICK J. HIGGINS, OF NEW VIENNA, OHIO.

CHECKREIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1906.

Application filed December 17,1904. Serial No. 237,282.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Vienna, in the county of Clinton and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oheckreins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to checkreins, and has for its object to produce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character which will normally maintain the animals head in checked position and one which in practice will at the same time permit free movement of the animals head and neck, thus rendering the device perfectly humane in action.

- To these ends the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanylng drawings, Figure 1 1s a plan view of a checkrein embodying the invention, showing the same in contracted condition. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the yieldable portion of the rein expanded. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the members or heads and the non-expansible element. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, illustrating the manner of connecting the non-exhaving transversely-elongated eyes 5, one of which receives the adjacent end of the facestrap 3 and the other of which receives a perforated engaging member or strap 6, adapted for engagement with the check-hook carried, as usual, by the harness. The heads I, which have shanks 7 seated in the adjacent ends of the spring 2, are further connected by means of a chain or other non-elastic element 8, extended through the spring and engaged with the heads, preferably by means of pins 9, as illustrated in Fig. 4, these pins being extended through perforations in the shanks 7 and the terminal links of the chain, which latter seat in longitudinal openings formed in'the shanks.

It is to be observed that the chain is of somewhat greater length than the spring 2 when the latter is in its normal contracted condition, and consequently serves to permit longitudinal expansion of the spring to a predetermined limited extent.

Adjustment of the checkrein as a whole in the matter of length may be effected at the point of engagement of the face-strap 3 with the expansible section 2, the strap 8 being for this purpose provided with a series of longitudinally-spaced perforations 10 and a buckle or other appropriate adjusting member 11.

In practice the face-strap 3 is engaged in the usual manner with the bit and the strap 6 with the check-hook, the length of the rein having been previously adjusted to retain the animals head in checked position. It is ap parent that the spring 2 will normally remain in contracted position, thereby exerting a force for holding the animals head up, the section 2 being, however, longitudinally expansible to permit free movement of the animals head and neck. It is, however, to be noted that the non-yieldable element 8 will limit the expansion of the spring 2, thus to prevent undue strain upon the latter.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a simple device which in practice will eificiently perform its function and the attainment of the ends in view, it being understood that minor changes in the details herein set forth may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- In a checkrein, an expansible section comprising a coil-spring, heads having shanks seated in the ends of the spring and provided with longitudinal openings intersected by transverse openings, anon-expansible element extended longitudinally through the spring and having its terminals seated in the longitudinal openings of the shanks, and pins entered through the transverse openings in said shanks and terminals of the elements for connecting the latter with the heads.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PATRICK J. HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

EUGENE EDWARDS, HOWARD HILDEBRANT. 

